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Freedom Won and Freedom Yet Unborn
This Fourth of July marks a remarkable milestone: two hundred fifty years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is right to celebrate—to gather with neighbors, to fire up the grill, to watch the sky bloom with light, to give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy and to remember those who secured them at great cost. Ours is a good and beautiful country, and gratitude is the fitting response of a faithful heart.
As Christians, though, we celebrate with a particular tone. Our Prayer Book counts Independence Day among the holy days, complete with its own collect and appointed readings. In it we pray that God, “in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty,” would grant us “grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace.” Freedom, we confess, is God’s gift—not our achievement. That single word, maintain, tells the truth about liberty: it is never finished, never simply inherited, but tended in every generation like a garden that would otherwise run to weeds.
It’s a confession that keeps our patriotism honest. We can love this country without mistaking it for the Kingdom of God. The Declaration proclaimed a breathtaking truth—that all are created equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights—and then left it to those who followed to make the words true. For two and a half centuries we have labored, sometimes gloriously and sometimes not, to close the distance between what we profess and how we live. The enslaved, the disenfranchised, the stranger at our gate: our history is in large part the story of an ideal straining against our human inability to honor it fully.
To name that gap is not to disparage our country but to love it well. Scripture teaches us that the truest love does not flatter; the prophets loved Israel enough to call her home. So we give thanks for genuine progress—hard-won and real—while refusing the comfortable story that the work is done. There is still justice to be secured, still neighbors unseen, still a promise of freedom that awaits its fuller keeping.
Here our faith offers a gift the fireworks cannot. Saint Paul reminds the Philippians that “our citizenship is in heaven,” and it is that deeper belonging that frees us to labor for justice here without despair. Because our final hope rests in God and not in any nation, we can face our shortcomings honestly, without cynicism, and press toward our ideals without the fear that everything depends on us. We work, and we trust that God is working still.
So light the fireworks and wave the flag. Celebrate this good land and the two hundred fifty years behind us. Remember always those who continue to honorably serve in the name of freedom for all. And let us also, a people of prayer, ask God to make this country ever more just, more merciful, and more free—until the day when the words we cherish are true for every soul who calls this nation home.
Happy Independence Day.
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Amy's Occassional Book Club
Amy’s Occasional Book Club will discuss MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS on Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 7:00–8:30 p.m., exploring what it means to be human in an age of artificial intelligence using Pope Leo’s encyclical — click here to RSVP. Childcare is provided.
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Our Youth are on the Move!
From July 8–15, our high schoolers will travel to Ecuador with Scott and Debbie, and from July 13–18, our middle schoolers will be on Wilderness Trail with Jason Pass. As they step into new places and experiences, please hold them—and their adult leaders—in your prayers, asking God to guide their travels and deepen their faith.
| | Upcoming Events and Notes | | |
Did you know that Trinity church equipped with a hearing loop in the main section of the church? This assistive listening system is designed to transmit sound directly to hearing aides that are so equipped.
During Communion at the 8:00 and 10:00 services, a prayer station is available in the Tower Room. After receiving Communion, you are invited to receive prayer and anointing for yourself, others, or any need—spoken or unspoken. All are welcome.
Celebration for Bishop José's Ministry: The Diocese of Western North Carolina will host a celebration giving thanks for the ministry of Bishop José on Saturday, August 1, from 12:30-3:30 at Christ School. All are invited to gather as we express our gratitude, share our love, and pray for him as he begins this next chapter of ministry. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Nurturing the Creative Life: A Workshop Thursday, September 10, 2026, 5:00–7:00 p.m. Join writer and spiritual director Charlotte Donlon for an evening of contemplative practices, storytelling, and conversation on what it means to live a sustainable, soulful creative life as a writer, artist, musician, or maker. You’ll explore four core movements of the creative journey—belong, become, behold, and bestow—and be invited to see your whole life, not just the easy parts, as sacred ground for creativity. To learn more and register, please click here.
Trinity Men's Retreat Trinity is hosting a Men's Retreat at Lake Logan September 18-20. We will have a great combination of fellowship, reflection, and fun! We will start on Friday evening and finish up on Sunday mid-morning. $225 for double occupancy (2 beds to a room). Send an email to Chris at jcdecker71@gmail.com with questions or if you’d like to help with planning! Click here to register.
A Sparked Imagination: A Retreat for Creatives at Lake Logan, October 2-3, 2026. The last few years have been taxing. This retreat, led by author and priest Lauren Winner, aims to nourish and restore the imaginations of those who contribute to nourishing the imaginations of our community — as well as those who are just beginning to live open to their own creativity. To stretch and stock our imaginations, we will engage poetry, visual art, writing about visual art; delve into the histories of words; and practice thinking and writing metaphorically. We will also keep a good deal of silence and space in our day for reading and writing and walking and breathing.Register here.
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We are currently in our Summer Schedule.
To view what we offer regularly, please click here.
Adults:
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The Word for Today Bible Study and Breakfast 9:00 - 9:45 in the Conference Room (in-person and on Zoom). Head into Tuton Hall to pick up your breakfast, then bring it to the Conference Room, where we’ll gather to study the day’s assigned lessons together.
Children and Youth:
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Nursery is available starting at 9 through the end of the second service.
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Playground Open 9:30-9:45 — Children above nursery age are welcome to play on the playground until Come Join the Circle drop off begins at 9:45.
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Come Join the Circle starting at 10 for children 3 years through fifth grade in the Undercroft. The children will join their parents in church at the Eucharist.
| | Summer: Regular Offerings | | |
Intercession & Silent Prayer will continue informally during the summer months.The Redwood Chapel will be open each Wednesday from 10:45 to 11:15am for Silent Prayer for as long as you need. A handout with prayers and readings to guide you will be provided. No sign-up is necessary. Contact Sue Graff at sjhgraff@ yahoo.com or the church office with questions.“I will give them a heart to understand that I am Yahweh, and they shall be my people and I will be their God when they return to me with all their heart. —JEREMIAH 24:7”
Midweek Eucharist Every Wednesday, we offer a midweek worship service at 11:30.
Women’s Bible Study meets Tuesdays at 9:30 in the conference room (and online) to discuss the Scriptures appointed for the upcoming Sunday. Contact the Rev. Amy Peterson to receive the summer schedule.
The Trinity Caregivers’ Group meets by Zoom on the second Friday of each month, offering a confidential space for those caring for loved ones with dementia, facilitated by geropsychologist Dr. Corkie Morrill with Deacon Peggy Buchanan, who is a nurse. Contact corkiemorrill@charter.net
Facilitators Sharon Lechner and Page McCorkle invite you to the Becoming Beloved Community book group. Members discuss the intersection of social and environmental justice with the dominant culture of white supremacy. Email pageconnermccorkle@gmail.com with questions.
The Second Chapter Book Group is a welcoming ladies’ group meeting every even-numbered month on the second Thursday at 10:00 AM in the Clark Room. The next meeting is on August 13 for Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Contact Barbara Fotinos for details: bfotinos@gmail.com.
AA meetings: Monday–Friday mornings at 7:00 AM, Tuesday & Friday evenings at 8:00 PM, Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM, all in the Undercroft. Al-Anon and Alateen meet Sundays at 5:00 PM in the Youth Rooms; AA for Women meets on Saturdays at 8:30 AM in the Clark Room.
The next Daughters of the King meets the third Sunday of every month (except for July). The next meeting is July 19.The mission of the Order is “the extension of Christ’s Kingdom through Prayer, Service, and Evangelism,” lived out through a personal Rule of Life that always includes a Rule of Prayer and a Rule of Service."
The Brotherhood of St. Andrew meets twice a month. Their social meeting is on the last Tuesday of the month; the next social meeting is July 28. The Sunday worship meeting is paused during the summer and will resume September 6.
The Creation Care Committee's mission is to deepen awareness of the sacredness of creation, tend to the landscape around Trinity with a strong sense of the spirit of the place, and to inspire others to rethink how they can be good stewards to God’s creation. This group will have several work days this summer but no regular meetings until September.
Literary Ladies Book Club, meets at noon on the fourth Thursday of odd-numbered months. The next meeting is July We gather in homes, share a potluck lunch, and discuss novels, memoirs, nonfiction, and even poetry chosen together at the January meeting. Text or email Erwin Gunnells at 838-216-6282 or erwin2@bellsouth.net to join in.
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Creation Care Corner:
Australia is producing so much solar power now that electricity companies are providing three hours of free electricity to everyone every day! Clean energy abundance. Track NC's progress toward legal balcony solar here, and contact your reps to advocate for it! Click here for more info.
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A Note About Our Prayer List:
Please note that names will remain on the Prayer List for six weeks. If you notice someone has been removed and would like for them to stay on the list longer, please contact Kat - kat@trinityasheville.org.
| Photo and Video Policy: To view our policy regarding media and minors, click here. | |
Listen to our podcast: 60 Church Street
Subscribe to our podcast on all major platforms. If you missed the Sunday homily or if you just want to listen to it again, this is a great way to do so on-the-go. Click here to listen!
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Check out pics from our community life here at Trinity:
We post pictures from our events for you to enjoy! We just uploaded a bunch of photos from VBS that we think you'll enjoy! Click here to view our Flickr gallery.
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Subscribe to Stories That Matter:
Trinity has a second blog - Stories that Matter. We invite you to subscribe to it! Click here to view Stories That Matter. When you subscribe, you will be notified when a new post is made to these blogs and when livestream posts are created. It's a great way to stay "in-the-know" here at Trinity.
| Next Sunday’s Lectionary Readings (for 7/12): Genesis 25:19-34, Psalm 119:105-112, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 | | |
Volunteer
Check out Trinity’s website to learn more about opportunities to serve the church and world.
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Lake Logan Volunteers: Join us every Thursday for fellowship and service including painting, repairs, and landscaping. Contact Carlyn (carlynpheil@gmail.com) or Fred (fredfairhead@att.net).
Serve Meals with Church of the Advocate Help serve Sunday meals to the unhoused after the 10:45 AM service at Church of the Advocate. No cooking skills needed. Contact Rev. Mike Reardon (mike@trinityasheville.org).
The Appalachian Regional Ministry partners with churches and leaders in Graham County to support one of our region’s poorest communities. Join us on monthly trips to Robbinsville to cook, distribute food, and serve alongside local leaders. Everyone is welcome! To get involved, contact the church office for Tom Goodrich’s info.
ABCCM: ABCCM is a significant ministry in our community; our Rector is on the board. Explore the many opportunities to volunteer.
Trinity Cooking Team for Transformation Village Trinity has a team that cooks for Transformation Village, a ministry of ABCCM that provides up to 100 beds for homeless women, mothers, children, and veterans. We need up to ten volunteers. Upcoming dates: 7/21, 8/18, 9/15. Contact Debbie Cox to let her know you’d like to help: debbie@trinityasheville.org.
Help cook and serve breakfast from 8:00 to 9:30 on Sundays. Tom Griffin and Debbie Cox do most of the work, but help scrambling eggs or flipping pancakes is greatly appreciated! Sign up on the bulletin board in Tuton Hall or contact Debbie Cox at debbie@trinityasheville.org.
Outreach is a team of Trinitarians concerned about helping those less fortunate in our community. We meet every other month to plan ministries like Habitat for Humanity and Red Bag collections for needy charities. If you would like to help, please contact the church office for more information.
| | | | You can donate to Trinity however is convenient for you. Our address is 60 Church Street, Asheville, NC, 28801. Text “trinityavl” to 73256. You can also use the “Give” button on our website. Thank you. | | Trinity Clergy, Staff, and Vestry | | |
The Following Immediate and Ongoing Prayer concerns remain for a period of six weeks
unless they are intentionally renewed by calling the church office.
Immediate Concerns: Jason Hamlin, Annie Jones, Neil Grant, Macrae Randall, Matthew Carlyle, Terry Skidmore, Kim Wherry, Maria Mainolfi, Sally Cochran, and Gil Walden
For Those Who Have Died: David Ausherman
For Those in Service to Our Country: Lt. Cmdr. Alexander M. Ford (son of John Mark and Charlene Ford), WO. Brendan Gilbert (grandson of Curt Gilbert); Davis N. Graham, Lieutenant J.G. (grandson of Jane Clark), Gerald Welker, Jr, US Air Force Band (son of Leslie Welker), SN John Work, US Navy (son of Becky & Jack Work), CPT Crystal Frutchey, NC National Guard (cousin of Jennine Hough), Charles Nause, Navy Seal (friend of the Shaws), and Lt. Noah Hasty, US Navy (son of Hadyn &Terry Hasty).
Birthdays (July 5 - July 11): Mary Culbertson, Chris Decker, Stephen Maag, Brad Wilson, James Farquhar, Kevin Katechis, Hank Methvin, and Roger Gregg
Anniversaries (July 5 - July 11): Kevin & Elizabeth Seal, Gail & Lee Stockdale, Tom & Bonnie Spradling, Chad & Karen Hardy
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Have an an announcement for Friday emails?
If you would like your group's announcement to be included in the Friday emails or the Sunday Times, please email Kat Lomuscio.
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